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Director Tom Hooper’s adaptation of David Peace’s novel is well executed but, unfortunately, misguided.

Michael Sheen takes on the role of legendary football (as in soccer - showing respect where respect is due) manager, Brian Clough in this film based on the 2006 novel The Damned Utd by David Peace.  While the characters and statistics remain historically accurate, the actual story itself (as it is in the novel) is a fictionalized account of the events of Clough’s life from his time as manager for Derby County in 1967 to replacing long time rival, Don Revie, at Leeds United in 1974.

To explore this rivalry, you would have to go back to 1967 where a very ambitious and wide eyed Brian Clough has found out that his struggling second division Derby County team has drawn Leeds United (who held top spot of the first division) in the FA Cup tournament.  Excited to face his long time idol, Don Revie (played by Colm Meaney), Clough personally sees to various renovations around the stadium and makes arrangements to ensure that Revie receives a true hero’s welcome. 

You know that old saying,  “Never meet your heroes.”?  Clough was clearly disappointed in this experience.  On game day, Revie ignored Clough as he made his way into the stadium to prepare for the game.  Revie’s team wiped the field with Derby in a most unsportsmanlike way.  And, to top it all off, at the end of the night Revie didn’t even take the time to shake Clough’s hand on the way to the bus.

Now, some people would get disappointed but eventually shake this off and chalk it up to experience.  Not Brian Clough.  He was now on a mission to make Don Revie take notice.  Together with his assistant manager Peter Taylor (Played by Timothy Spall), Brian started filling the gaps in his team by finding the best players money could buy and sticking them in key positions.  Before you know it, Clough has managed Derby County right out of the second division and to the top of the first and, in the process, handing Leeds United a crushing defeat.  Brian Clough is definitely on Don Revie’s radar now.  If only this was enough.

Soon ego and ambition go unchecked turning Clough into his own worst enemy.  So, how exactly does he go on to taking over as manager for Leeds United?  Well, you’re going to have to watch the movie (or read the book).  I’m not going to spoil the whole thing for you.

Director Tom Hooper’s adaptation of David Peace’s novel is well executed but, unfortunately, misguided.  Brian Clough has the distinction of winning the European Cup back to back managing Nottingham Forest in 1979 and 1980.  Something that many consider to be the greatest achievement in football history.  An amazing event that would serve as an epic cornerstone to any sports film.  However, this is only quickly mentioned in a caption at the very end.  The movie focuses more on a particularly dark time in Clough’s life but never gives us the satisfaction of a real payoff at the end.  Clough isn’t a particularly sympathetic character but at the same time you see him get so beaten down that you can’t help but hope to see him rise back up.  I get that this is more of a story about the conflict between Clough and Revie but when a man has achieved such a high goal, why limit his story or his film legacy (because, let’s face it, this is how most people will learn about the man) to this small chapter?

The performances were all amazing.  The pacing was spot on.  But because of the short-sighted treatment of Clough in this script, I walked away from The Damned United pretty damn unsatisfied.

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